LONGFORD, a town of Ireland, situated on the river Cromlin, in the county of Longford and province of Leinster, 64 miles from Dublin; which river falls a few miles below this place into the Shannon. It is a borough, post, market, and fair town; and formerly returned two members to parliament. Patron Lord Longford. It gave title of earl to the family of Aungier; of viscount, to the family of Micklethwaite; and now gives that of baron to the family of Packenham. Within a mile and a half of the town is a charter-school for above 40 children. This place has a barrack for a troop of horse. It is large and well built; and in a very early age an abbey was founded here, of which St Idus, one of St Patrick's disciples, was abbot. In the year 1400, a fine monastery was founded to the honour of the virgin Mary, for Dominican friars, by O'Ferral prince of Annaly. This monastery being destroyed by fire, Pope Martin V. by a bull in the year 1429, granted an indulgence to all who should contribute to the rebuilding of it. In 1433, Pope Eugene IV. granted a bull to the same purpose; and in 1438 he granted another to the like effect. The church of this friary, now the parish church, is in the diocese of Ardagh. The fairs are four in the year.